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If the 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is any indication, BMW is running out of niches to fill. You don’t need to decipher BMW‘s nomenclature to see that the car is a four-door version of the 4 Series, as many of the styling cues are lifted directly from the coupe and transplanted onto the Gran Coupe. Other than its more stylized look, does the 4 Series Gran Coupe have any selling points over the 3 Series? Let’s take a look.

The 2015 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe shares its length, width, wheelbase, and track with the two-door 4 Series, but gets a more sloping roof that’s elongated by 4.4 inches. Meanwhile, the roof has been raised half an inch compared to the coupe, which BMW says contributes to more headroom and overall spaciousness. When you compare its dimensions with the 3 Series sedan, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is around the same length and width at 0.1 inches longer and 0.6 inches wider. The biggest difference in size is in height, as the 4 Series Gran Coupe is 2.2 inches shorter than the 3 Series. The Gran Coupe also gets a Gran Turismo-like power liftgate in place of a trunk. That opening provides 17 cu-ft of cargo space based on the European measurement, and 45.9 cu-ft when the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats are folded down.

As far as styling goes, the Gran Coupe delivers on its promise of being a four-door 4 Series. The segmented “air curtain” front intake vents carry over from the coupe, as does the air breather front fender vent. The rounded, clear red taillights of the 4 coupe grace the back of the Gran Coupe, and from the profile view the characteristic Hofmeister kink is clearly visible at the bottom corner of the rear quarter window.

As with other BMW models, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is offered in a choice of three trims: Sport, Luxury, and M Sport. The Sport Line trim features a nine-slat kidney grille with a chrome surround and gloss black-finished slats. Gloss black is also applied to the B-pillars and front valance, while matte black is used for the window trim. In back, black chrome accents highlight the dual exhaust tips. The Luxury Line features an 11-slat, all-chrome kidney grille along with a chrome “dual cross bar” and air breathers in the front valance. On the rear bumper is a horizontal strip finished in high-gloss chrome. The M Sport gets a large front air intake, rear diffuser insert, unique rocker panel trim, and 18- or 19-inch M Sport wheels. The M Sport comes standard with the adaptive M Sport suspension, and can be optioned with M Sport brakes with blue calipers.

Inside, BMW’s current interior design language prevails. The dashboard, center console, and door trim feature layered colors and materials, and a free-standing flat-screen iDrive monitor is front and center. BMW calls the 4 Series Gran Coupe a “4+1 seater,” and says entry to the rear seats is made easier by the frameless rear doors (no kidding?). The rear liftgate can be opened with a swipe of your foot beneath the bumper when the Comfort Access feature (part of the Premium package) is selected.

Under the hood of the 4 Series Gran Coupe, you’ll find BMW’s usual powertrain suspects. The 428i Gran Coupe will come equipped with a 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4, while the 435i Gran Coupe will get BMW’s ubiquitous 300-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6. Both engines will be mated exclusively to the brand’s eight-speed automatic transmission in the U.S. BMW doesn’t give details on a 435i xDrive Gran Coupe, but says an all-wheel-drive variant of the 428i Gran Coupe will be available at launch. The car’s suspension is all 4 Series coupe, but BMW says specific body reinforcement has been added to the front and rear sections of the Gran Coupe to improve steering precision and response. Despite this, the Gran Coupe is only marginally heavier than its two-door sibling.

The 2015 BMW 428i Gran Coupe starts at $41,225, or $3000 more than a 2014 BMW 328i. Will the car’s unique styling and rear liftgate be worth the extra cash to BMW shoppers looking for a compact executive car? Time will tell. The 4 Series Gran Coupe will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and land in show rooms this summer.